TWTD understands that Town are continuing talks with Leeds United regarding the move for striker Billy Sharp we revealed this morning. The 28-year-old is out of favour at Elland Road, having joined them on a two-year deal last summer.

The Blues are likely to be keen to agree a loan deal, but the Whites may want Sharp, who has made only nine starts and nine sub appearances, scoring two goals, off their books permanently.

Sharp started his career with hometown club Sheffield United but made only two senior sub appearances before moving on to Rushden and Diamonds in January 2005.

The striker impressed with the Northamptonshire club and six months later joined Scunthorpe.

His goalscoring form for the Iron won him a move back to the Blades in the summer of 2007 but again having failed to make his mark at Bramall Lane, he moved out on loan to Doncaster before signing a permanent deal at the Keepmoat Stadium in September 2009.

Town boss Paul Jewell repeatedly tried to sign Sharp in the summer of 2011 but he remained with the South Yorkshire club.

In November that year, Sharp received an ovation from the Town support after he scored at Portman Road soon after the death of his newborn son Luey, something the frontman later described as a “special thing”.

Sharp subsequently moved on to Southampton in January 2012 before loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Reading and back at Doncaster prior to joining Leeds in August last year. The Whites handed the Saints £600,000 to cover paying up his contract at St Mary's.

Town boss Mick McCarthy is still keen to add to his striking options, despite having signed Colchester’s Freddie Sears earlier today with David McGoldrick a doubt ahead of tomorrow’s game at Millwall due to a knee injury.

Sharp could be involved in the Town squad for the Millwall game if a loan deal is agreed by noon tomorrow.

Photo: Action Images

Luka added 14:00 - Jan 16 Sign him up
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Jimmy86 added 14:03 - Jan 16 Hope we sign him and if he is out of favour at Leeds, sign him perm!!! He's nearly joined us before and the ovation meant a lot to him. He'd give his all for the shirt, as he always has done, wherever he's been, would be a good signing
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irishtim added 14:04 - Jan 16 Yes would be a good signing i reckon.
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Popeye added 14:05 - Jan 16 One new striker signed and another might be on the way. Does that mean McG is going or does he have a long term injury?
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swarby_7 added 14:05 - Jan 16 Whats going on today! Lol. No messing around with signings when it comes to our Mick! Lets hope this deal gets done asap too.
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theblueginger added 14:07 - Jan 16 I w a huge fan of this guy at Donny a few seasons back. I remember im scoring twice against us at Portman Road with two well-taken goals. He then helped fe Southampton into the Premier League. It is a shame we didn't sign him and Coppinger that summer. We went for the cheaper alternatve of Chopra instead....... However he has had a hit and miss career. Great at Donny, Scunthorpe, and Southampton, not the same at Leeds of Sheffield United. It is about time he played for us at some point. He is 28 now but i have absolute faith in TC getting the best out of him. At his best he was a determined pain in the a*se goal poacher for Championship defences who could was goothe air for his size. COYB

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charsfield added 14:08 - Jan 16 why don't leeds want their best players?!
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theblueginger added 14:09 - Jan 16 ....clearly i need a new keyboard
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Lightningboy added 14:12 - Jan 16 I think it's fairly obvious that McGoldick isn't enjoying his best form this season..maybe it's his injury or his head isn't right after the Leicester bid but a new striker or two will maybe take the pressure off him and give him a boot up the bum at the same time. An injection of new faces up front was definately needed.
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MVBlue added 14:12 - Jan 16 So Mick has had to to consider our state. Strikers he thinks, correctly, thats what we need, goalscorers and competition for places. Having seen McGoldrick and Murphy smash in goals but form dry up, he Cracks on and looks to pick one of the better striker from 3 years ago who needs to find form. In Mick we trust.
7

NoCanariesAllowed added 14:13 - Jan 16 Ever since that day when he said how touched he was by that poignant applause from our fans when he scored at PR, it made me like him, and a big part of me has wanted us to put all the rumours to bed and get this guy in the door at last. Whether or not he'd prove to be the striker we know he can be is up for debate, but I hope this deal does happen, and I hope it works. The new Murphy with McGoldrick and Sharp in the same squad, folks. That's the kind of thing I've been dreaming about for years.

14

miltonsnephew added 14:13 - Jan 16 As I predicted the other day!! Thank you!! In Mick we trust!! Oh and my predictions?!?!
3

atty added 14:15 - Jan 16 Still ongoing after Sears signing and Noel Hunt here. Didz injury more serious than we thought, or on his way, he needs real competition anyway. Would be great if Billy boy signed and TC got him back to his best.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 14:21 - Jan 16 I like the idea of this, he's only 28 and hs a decent golsto game ratio, although staistics are not everthing. Also he aleady has a relationshp with thePortman Rd faithfull in a weird way and whnen you have that connection with the fan I think it gives you that extra 10% on the pitch. Its like girlfriends, you go the extra mile for the ones you have that real connection with

4

itfc_nik added 14:21 - Jan 16 Always liked Billy Sharp, and his reaction at the ovation he got at PR that day was fantastic, a true professional who always gives 100%
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westernblue added 14:32 - Jan 16 Billy Sharp ticks all the right boxes. Including attitude. It would be fantastic to have him on the books. Thanks once again MM!
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samemeny added 14:41 - Jan 16 Sometimes a player just needs to feel loved. He knows he will get that at Portman rd. would show the rest of the league we are serious about getting promoted. Four good strikers at the club and Paul Taylor. That is the same reason for getting an experienced goalkeeper in as well. Then could loan Crowe out to gain league experience. Like the way MM & TC are being backed by ME. Long May this continue.

6

warktheline added 14:43 - Jan 16 Mick smells PROMOTION, as does the owner, so do I, and many more of Mick's fan club.
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Tractorog added 14:49 - Jan 16 Interesting signing. Could go either way. With Mick you get an honest approach. He will be either a success or moved on pretty quickly. You also know we wont pay top dollar. It's not like the panicky old days when we would gamble millions on the turn of a card and then keep playing that card because we had paid so much for it... (slightly stretched metaphor, but I'm sure you get the point).

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B1TFC added 14:55 - Jan 16 Fantastic! Get him in!! I don't think there's an issue with didz leaving?!? We are in the race! We have a chance!! And I think that ME, MM and TC are all thinking we need to push as hard as we can! Best transfer window for a long time I think :) COYB IN Mick we trust
6

Gooders7592 added 14:56 - Jan 16 Sharp & Sears are exactly the quality/depth we need. Especially with us pushing for promotion!
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runaround added 15:06 - Jan 16 Would be an excellent signing IMHO. Here's hoping it gets done
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Blue_Again added 15:12 - Jan 16 Why aren't we getting in some quality midfielders who can actually pass a ball?
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bellazzurri79 added 15:13 - Jan 16 This would be excellent
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bellazzurri79 added 15:13 - Jan 16 This would be excellent
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